CHAPTER 5

KATRINA

But no. I couldn’t just sit there and accept this. This might be the only chance I had to confront Boss Valerion.

Without hesitation, I turned to him and met his gaze with a serious, unwavering stare. He was seated across the long dining table, eating with such formality.

I clenched my hands under the table, gathering the courage to speak.

"With all due respect… is there really no chance you’ll change your mind?"

He looked up at me.

“Your bedroom is on the fifth floor, Katrina,” he said calmly. “If you’re done eating, proceed to your room.”

So this was really happening. The wedding was soon, and it wasn’t going to be canceled.

I let out a deep breath, trying to push down the lump in my throat.

Then I felt my dad's hand gently touch mine. “Sweetheart… I’ll come visit you here, okay? Just... please don’t forget what I told you. Whatever happens… don’t ever get involved with Boss Pierre.”

I just nooded.

I finished everything on my plate. It would’ve been embarrassing to leave without finishing the food, especially after how generously they served us.

After the meal, the butler was instructed to accompany me. He quietly led me to the elevator and brought me all the way to a large, luxurious room.

I was still full, yet somehow I already felt sleepy. The butler gave a slight bow and left without a word, gently closing the door behind him.

Letting out a yawn, I made my way to the bed. I stopped on the left side and slowly took off my indoor slippers and climbed up.

I pulled back the ridiculously thick blanket and slid under it, letting it fall back over me like a soft, heavy cloud.

As I lay down, I could feel my body sink into the mattress, it was unbelievably soft, the kind that seemed to mold perfectly to every curve of your body. It almost felt like it was pulling me in, cradling me gently.

I lay flat on my back, arms at my sides like someone lying inside a coffin. I let out one final yawn, my body relaxing completely, and slowly closed my eyes.

Sleep found me almost instantly.

But it didn’t last.

I was suddenly jolted awake when something or someone landed on top of me with a crushing weight.

“HMMMMPH!”

“FUUCK!”

The moment I groaned out in shock, a loud, panicked voice echoed through the room. Whoever it was must’ve been just as startled as I was. The weight immediately lifted off of me, as if it realized too late that they were suffocating a person, not crashing into a pillow.

Gasping, I shoved the thick blanket off my body and sat up in alarm.

“Y–YOU?!”

My voice cracked as my sleepy eyes tried to focus and there I saw Pierre.

Standing right in front of me.

His eyes squeezed shut as he dragged both hands down his face in frustration.

I could hear him breathe, trying to calm himself or not to snap any further.

“What... are you doing in my room?” he asked, his voice lower now, but still tense with suppressed rage.

I slowly sat up in bed, stretching a little as I let out a yawn.

Through my barely opened eyes, I could already feel that heavy, penetrating stare. And sure enough, he was watching me intently.

I took my time.

I lazily scratched my hair, which at this point probably looked like a witch’s nest.

Then, without a care in the world, I reached for his blanket and wiped the side of my mouth with it, pretending to clean off a trail of drool.

Even though I hadn’t drooled at all.

But judging by the way his face darkened even more, my little act had the desired effect.

He looked seriously annoyed.

“Maybe you just walked into the wrong room by accident?” I said in the softest, most innocent tone I could manage.

Then I puckered my lips into a playful pout fluttered my eyelashes at him.

The twitch in his jaw told me everything I needed to know.

CHAPTER 6

KATRINA

He was this close to losing it.

His jaw tightened, locking in irritation, and he exhaled sharply through his nose.

“Why would I get lost in my own house?” he snapped. “Was this Dad’s idea?”

“Bingo,” I said, nodding with a smug little grin. “You finally figured it out. I was starting to think you weren’t going to get it at all.”

I gave an exaggerated glance around the room. “I didn’t even know this was your room, to be honest. But now it makes sense... That blanket stinks. Of course it does... someone actually uses it.”

“Can you now please go away?” he growled.

Before I could toss another comment his way, he yanked the blanket off me roughly.

I sighed loudly and stretched my arms overhead, making a show of how relaxed and unbothered I was.

But I didn’t even get to finish the stretch.

He stormed toward me, grabbed my left wrist, and pulled me off the bed in one swift, aggressive motion.

“Hey! Ow! Could you not?” I protested while wincing. “A little warning wouldn’t hurt…”

I stumbled, almost tripping over my own feet as he dragged me toward the door like I was a sack of trash he couldn’t wait to toss out.

Only when my feet touched the cold hallway floor did he finally let go.

I turned around quickly, about to say something snarky, but I was met with the loud slam of the door in my face.

He was gone.

And that door, it didn't just close. It thundered shut, the sound echoing across the entire hallway.

I just took a deep breath and turned my back once more.

I started to whistle softly as I walked toward the elevator. I wasn’t about to let this situation stress me out any further.

But just as I was about to step inside the elevator, I suddenly stopped in my tracks. The doors of Elevator 2 slid open with a soft ding.

A maid stepped out slowly.

Her movements were careful as she clutched a shimmering silver tray in both hands. A cloud of steam rose from the food neatly arranged on it.

Looked like she was headed to Pierre’s room. He probably didn’t get a chance to eat earlier.

I couldn’t help but watch her as she walked across the hallway, balancing the tray with grace.

Pierre was right, after all, their servant really did look better than I did.

I could only shake my head and let out a soft laugh at the thought. “Excuse me, Miss?” I called out before she could reach Pierre’s room.

She stopped mid-step and turned to face me.

“Yes, ma’am?” she asked politely, her voice sounding respectful.

I had a feeling she already knew who I was, which made me instinctively clear my throat, trying to sound composed. “Where’s the guest room?”

“It’s on the third floor, ma’am,” she answered promptly.

“Alright, thank you,” I replied, flashing her a small smile.

She returned the smile, and I stepped into the elevator.

She was just about to knock on Pierre’s door, and I had no intention of being around when it opened. I quickly pressed the button, eager to get away before he caught sight of me still lingering here.

The elevator took me up to the third floor. The doors slid open, and I stepped out, quietly walking through the corridor until I reached one of the rooms.

“What am I even supposed to do in here?” I muttered sarcastically under my breath as I entered. With a sigh, I closed the door behind me and turned to face the room.

It was... big and spacious.

Too much space and too little to do, I didn’t even know where to start, and before long, boredom settled in.

With nothing better to occupy myself, I gave in to the soft temptation of the bed. I lay down, just to rest my eyes for a moment, but that moment stretched on, and I ended up falling into a deep, unplanned nap.

I didn’t wake until the maid gently stirred me. “Ma’am,” she said softly. "Is already eight in the evening.”

No wonder my stomach was practically growling. I hadn't realized how hungry I was until that moment.

I quickly freshened up and made my way downstairs to the dining hall. As I stepped into the room, I saw Boss Valerion seated at the long table, dining alone under the bright, golden lights.

He looked up as the butler escorted me in, and a smile appeared on his face.

“Good evening, Katrina,” he greeted kindly.

“Good evening to you as well,” I replied politely. The butler pulled out a chair for me, and I sat down without hesitation.

“Dear," he pressed. "You have to try to get along with my son..."

I gave a small nod in response.

“I tried,” I said. “But earlier, he kicked me out of his room.”

Boss Valerion let out a small sigh, as if he’d expected this sort of behavior from Pierre. “I’ve already spoken with him,” he said calmly. “We agreed that you should be sleeping beside him... sharing the same bed.”

I blinked at him, unsure if I heard him right.

My heart gave a small jolt.